KISSIMMEE, Fla. (DTN) -- At this stage, the 2013 growing season is shaping up too much like early 2012, and that is striking two kinds of fear into thousands of farmers gathering this week for Commodity Classic: Fear that record plantings could plunge prices far below break-evens come fall vs. fear that the Corn Belt's worst drought since the 1950s won't extinguish anytime soon.

Feeding farmer caution is the risk of another flash drought. Mid-February soil moisture profiles are exactly the same in the Eastern Corn Belt as they were a year ago, Climate Corporation agronomist Jeff Hamlin told DTN. ...